by A D Evans
‘I can make it up to her tomorrow,’ He thought.
The W.P.C. he had spent Friday night with had been more than worth the ear bashing he was receiving from his darling wife.
Charles Ritchie entered the room; he was a fine looking man. Six feet four in his bare feet, and built like an American footballer. There was charisma and arrogance about him that few would be likely to question. This man demanded, and received respect. He was respected and feared by all his subordinates and quite a lot of his superiors. He was a man who was destined for the top ranks of his chosen profession.
At forty-one years of age, he looked at least ten years younger. He had risen through the ranks of the Police, and was a self-educated individual who enjoyed learning. He had no time for the graduates who entered the force at officer level.
He had started his career as a very young constable in the mean streets of Govan. He had been working that area for about four years, and in that time had put a massive dent in the crime figures. The local villains were terrified of him and his unorthodox methods of police work.
There had been various rumours about the methods he employed when seeking convictions. Nothing that could ever be proven, but still there all the same.
He had been invited to join the C.I.D. at the tender age of twenty-four purely because of his results with crime figures in his area, and once in place had rapidly risen to his present rank.
He had educated himself to degree level through evening courses and the Open University. He had been lucky enough to attend a private school when he was younger, but unfortunately had to leave because his parents ran out of money. They were involved in serious accident and badly hurt. He was justifiably proud of his achievements.
He was a good man to have at your side in a fight, ruthless, no holds barred. When he fought, it was with a ferocity that even frightened his own men, and was as mean as any street fighter.
It was rumoured that he had taken Josie McBride in a square go and soundly beat him.
Josie was a real hard man from the Govan area; no weapons were ever used in his fights just bare knuckles. After their fight, it is said that Josie shook Ritchie's hand and told him that it was the hardest fight he had ever experienced. He also stated that a re- match was definitely NOT ON.
Charles Ritchie called the meeting to order with a gruff:
‘Right you lot listen to me’
The room fell silent.
‘For some unknown reason we have been passed information about a major drugs shipment that will take place on Christmas morning’
‘You can pass on to your loved ones the grand news that you will be working tomorrow. However, remember not a whisper of the real reason for your Yuletide toil. The snout who gave us the gen is one hundred percent bona-fide. He has been passing items to me personally for the last twelve years. He has never given me a bum steer, and knows better than to mess me about. If he say's that it's a goer, and then you can be sure it's a fact’
Many of the officers stood with long faces, at the thought of working Christmas day.
‘Sergeant Clark has all the details. He will brief you all individually, then as a group.
We will be staying here tonight, so get your family calls over and done with’
Sergeant Clark said from the back of the room,
‘Individual briefings start in twenty minutes, so be ready. The group will assemble here at ten o'clock for the formal collective orientation’
THIRTYEIGHT
Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. There were heavy snow flurries in the sky hinting at what was to come.
The man and woman drove away from the service station and taking the northern turn off proceeded in the direction of Glasgow.
Traffic was extremely light, but driving conditions were worsening by the minute. Heavy snow started to fall and it was getting more, and more difficult to see the road ahead.
‘Should we pull over and wait for a break in the weather?’ Suggested Dougie Craig, who was driving.
‘No way; we must be there on time. If we're late it could put the whole operation in jeopardy’ Replied Carol Hogan
‘I can’t see a thing,’ said Dougie.
‘Keep going. Once we get past this high land things will maybe improve’ Carol was trying to sound optimistic, but she was not conveying it very well.
‘I'm down to forty miles an hour at times; we'll never get there at this rate’
‘Try shutting your mouth and concentrating on your driving. Or would you like me to drive?’ She asked hoping that he would not take her up on her offer.
‘No thanks I’ll manage; just keep an eye on your side of the road in case I go to near the edge’
As the vehicle approached the outskirts of Lanark, the weather did improve slightly.
The thick lying snow turned to slush. There was now more traffic around, and the journey became a little less fraught.
‘Were only minutes behind schedule? Thank god we left that bit early,’ said Dougie
‘‘It's a miracle we arrived here at all,’ said Carol, as she stretched herself and became a bit less tense.
‘Do you have any idea what were carrying?’
‘Nope, not got a clue. But at the money were being paid I really don't care. I just want to hand the car over and head back home’
The car approached the turn off for Baillieston, and the couple stopped to study their map.
‘It's only a couple of minutes from here,’ said the man.
‘Good, the sooner the better’ she replied
They pulled into the car park at the supermarket, which was surprisingly quite busy.
‘There's the signal. Pull alongside that white Laguna with its lights on’ stated Carol.
The two cars sat side by side and exchanged a pre- arranged code word. The Glasgow based man and woman stepped from the Laguna. They did not even look at the English couple as they got into the delivery car and drove away.
‘Thank god that’s over. All we have to do now is go back on the motorway and Glasgow airport is only a twenty minute drive away’ The couple left the car park driving the white Laguna.
The couple drove from the car park unaware that they had just started a chain- of events, which would rock the criminal fraternity of Glasgow to its very roots.
THIRTYNINE
‘Come on you two get up. By the way it's snowing, so merry white Christmas to you’ shouted Paul to his two sleeping friends.
‘Is that you Santa? Cause I can’t hear any sleigh bells’ laughed Willie.
As Frankie appeared, Willie said:
‘Oh look, Santa's forgot one of his wee elves’
‘Aye Merry Christmas to you too. By the way that big red conk of yours reminds me of Rudolph’
‘What Rudolph Valintino?’
‘No, you’re more like Rudolph fuckin' Hess, and he’s been dead for years’
‘Come on you two and have a coffee. I know its Christmas, but do you two have to act like a couple of big weans?’
‘What do you mean weans? I was having a very intellectual conversation with Willie you know. Well anything on the level of Janet and John books is intellectual for the big man. Isn’t that right Willie boy?’
‘Fuck you too yah wee Englified Sassenach bastard’ laughed the big man.
‘Right come on there's work to be done before we leave here’ said Paul.
The plans were scrutinised once more for any flaws. None found the men awaited their pick-up by one of the other members of the gang.
Their lift arrived bang on time, and the three-man set off for their base at Maryhill.
As they drove, big Willie sung his own version off well-known Christmas carols.
‘My god man, come the day of judgement you will be cast immediately to the burny fire big man’ said Frankie
‘Not a Chance of that Frankie boy. Did you no know that gods a proddy? He likes all his proddy children to sing about fuckin' the Tims on New Year’s Day’
&nbs
p; He went into his song again, and to the tune of Jingle bells, he crooned about:
‘Oh what fun it is to fuck the Tims on New Year’s Day’
‘The bhoys will show you whose getting fucked on New Years Day big man. I’m predicting a landslide victory for the popes eleven’
‘No fuckin Chance of that, we'll take at least four or five off yees’ shouted the big yin.
Before Frankie could reply, they were pulling up at the entrance to the unit.
‘No more banter for a wee while boys. I want to concentrate on the operation,’ said Paul.
‘Aye your right boss I better get the business head on. Come on Frankie lets get to work’
They went to the desk and took the mobile phones from their chargers; they had been purchased new the previous day.
As they looked at the telephone numbers, they decided to take three each and do the calls that were required.
The two men were back with Paul in less than two minutes.
‘Everything’s in place boss. If the weather travelling from down south hasn't been too bad, the delivery should be in Glasgow within an hour’
‘Good, I can’t fuck wait to wipe the smile off that prick Connolly's face’ grinned the gang boss
FORTY
‘Is everyone here?
Charles Ritchie took centre stage on the podium.
‘Yes sir. Replied Sergeant Clark.
‘Good, then let's get this operation underway. Are there any questions before we leave? Does everybody know their role, and what's expected of them?’
There was a general nodding of heads.
‘Right lads lets get the drug dealing bastards. Let us put them where they belong. Hopefully behind bars for an extremely long time’
As they were getting ready to depart he was handed a message.
‘One thing before we leave. The people who were watching our man Lynch have reported that he and his crew were out of bed early this morning. It would be a massive bonus if we were to get Lynch and Connolly's mob in one foul swoop. I honestly don't know if they would work together, but we will be prepared for all eventualities’
He was almost rubbing his hands with glee.
‘I will take the necessary steps to request the issue off more hand guns than we would normally do. This is just a precaution, as we do not know at this stage whether we are dealing with one gang or two, but please be careful out there. I would hate to lose anyone to these evil bastards, as back-up there is a fire-arms team on call at a seconds notice’
There was a general nodding of relieved heads.
‘I would also like to thank you all for working so hard since last night. I know it is not easy being away from home at this time of year. We have the chance today to put a few real evil bastards out of commission. So let us go for it big time. May god protect us all?’
‘They're swapping cars now,’ said Colly into the mobile phone.
‘Get ready for action’
Rab Smyth and Andy Jarvis sat patiently in the old banger the pair had stolen in the early hours of the morning.
‘Imagine wakening up to find that some daft edjit had knocked this auld scrapper, you would think that Santa was doing you a big favour ‘laughed wee Andy.
‘Aye too true’, said Rab as he tried to wind the sticking window up and down. ‘I wouldn’t normally be seen dead in a fuckin' heap like this’.
‘That’s because you’re a snob, since your ma moved from Possil up to Parkhouse’ chided Andy, who was busily carving a gang slogan onto the front consul of the car.
‘Ha fuckin ha,’ sneered Rab. ‘Right wee man into action. Here comes our cue’
As the car carrying the drugs approached, the old wreck ran into the back of a new looking Mondeo.
The driver of the Mondeo (Colly) jumped out in a rage and started shouting at Andy.
‘Would you look what you've done? I'm phoning the police’
The two cars had effectively blocked the road.
Andy and Rab left their car and were full off apologies
As the target vehicle stopped, Colly approached with his arms waving in indignation. He asked if the driver had witnessed the accident.
The driver slowly began to wind down his window, and said he was sorry but he had not seen anything.
He had definitely not seen Rab sneak up to him from the rear.
The driver felt the cold metal of a gun pushed roughly into his neck just under his chin.
‘Don't move a muscle’ whispered Rab in his ear. ‘Switch off the engine and come out of the car. Any heroics and I’ll blow your brains all over that wee lassie sitting beside you’
The driver went rigid, and then did as he was told.
‘Right you next hen, move it’
The female exited from the passenger door. Both of them were frisked for mobile phones or any other communication device, found to be clean they were released.
‘Now take each other’s hand and walk away, don't look back and there will be no trouble’
The couple did as they were told.
Rab and Andy jumped into their car and started the engine.
Colly McGuire drove away the Mondeo and Shuggie Willkie moved the old wreck
The three cars headed up to Dyke Street in Baillieston, where they dumped the banger.
Colly and Shuggie left in the Mondeo for Maryhill.
Rab and Andy had their own orders. They were to drive down Edinburgh Road and pick up the M8 at Queenslie Industrial Estate.
Part of the information that Frankie had given the gang was that there would be a car sitting at the petrol station at the industrial estate. The cars purpose was to ensure that the delivery vehicle passed them and turned on to the M8; Paul did not take chances on anything.
As they headed for their destination, Andy played the tape, which was in the machine.
‘Christmas Carols for fuck sake. Who would listen to that shite?’
He extracted the tape and threw it out the open window.
‘There are some seriously weird people out there mate. You think yourself lucky that you've got me as a pal’
‘Oh aye, I’m dead lucky. My first big job and I’m stuck with a smelly bastard that farts like a rabid elephant. Aye, that's what you call lucky!’
FORTYONE
The police sat two cars at the entrance to the estate, another two were parked across the road at the hotel. There was a fifth car parked facing in the direction of the expected drug dealers car.
As the car, they sought passed St Johns home the password was given on their radios.
‘Incoming dirt, incoming dirt. E.T.A. one minute’ shouted the excited voice.
The officers all tensed, and put their vehicles into gear.
As the suspect vehicle cleared the corner from Edinburgh Road, and into Stepps Road, the police trap was effectively sprung.
The five unmarked police vehicles surrounded the car. Armed officers wearing black and white checked baseball hats jumped from the doors.
With shouts of ‘Armed Police don't move’, they swarmed all over the suspects.
The men in the trapped car could only put their hands up, the trap had been so swiftly and professionally accomplished; they had not seen the danger until it was too late.
When the two men had been removed from the car and their stash of illegal drugs discovered. They had been placed in the back of a police vehicle when Charles Ritchie went over to speak to them.
‘Well boys, Merry Christmas. I’ll bet this was a surprise you were not expecting; now tell me who you work for?’
His only reply was silence.
‘Okay, let’s get back to the station. You will be glad to hear, you are joining us for dinner. If I was you I wouldn't make any plans for the next eight or ten years.’ The silence from the men continued.
‘Right, Maryhill, and don't spare the horses’ he said to the driver.
FORTYTWO
Colly and Shuggie arrived at the unit in Maryhill, and big Willie greet
ed them at the door.
‘Well how did it go boys?’ Asked the big man.
‘Like clock work, no danger’ Colly replied.
‘Good, come in and tell the boss all about it, as they left he threw them a can of lager a piece’
The gang boss was sitting at the large desk when the duo entered.
‘Everything okay boys?’ as he pushed the paperwork to the side of his desk
‘Aye boss, no sweat at all. It all went just as we planned,’ said Shuggie.
The two men related everything that had happened during and after the operation.
At the end of their report, he poured some drinks, and told the two men that he was delighted with the way they had conducted the hi-jack of Connolly’s drugs.
‘One nil to the goodies, my boys.’
He came round to sit on the edge of his desk.
‘All we are waiting for is confirmation that Andy and Rab have reached Erskine okay. Then we can go and start practising for New Year okay?’
FORTYTHREE
The two prisoners were taken to the detention cells and left to contemplate for an hour before their questioning would begin.
‘Who would you like to interview first sir?’ asked Sergeant Clark.
‘Bring the driver; he looks to be the youngest’ ordered the Chief Inspector.
Rab Smyth was taken from the detention cell down a long corridor that smelled of disinfectant. He was bundled into an interrogation room and sat on a chair at a plain wooden desk.
There were two men facing him. The larger of the two introduced himself by leaning over the desk and slapping him hard across the mouth.
‘Hello, I’m detective chief inspector Charles Ritchie, This other fine upstanding member of the community is detective inspector Walter Berry’
He then put his two hands together as if in prayer.
‘I'm the man your dear old mother warned you about. I do not like drug dealers; I do not like you. As far as I am concerned, you are just scum, blight on society. The lowest of the low, an insignificant petty criminal’
